CSOs say over 100 miners have died in two years at...

CSOs say over 100 miners have died in two years at Scott Sakupwanya’s Redwing

Zim Now Writer

Civil Society Orgainstaions have said that government must ensure that Redwing Mine remains closed until safety is ensured, claiming that over 100 miners have died in work related accidents since 2020.

The CSOs said the current closure of Redwing Mine is not enough to give them confidence that the mine will now be made into a safe working environment.

“It is a temporary ban meant to fool the country from demanding accountability. It has happened twice with lies on promises to return to safe mining practices. We are approaching the government and Parliament to summon Better Brands said Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi.

The Centre for Research and Development, Ziva Community Empowerment Trust, and Penhalonga Youth Development Ratepayers Trust asserted their position in a statement issued yesterday.

Redwing Mine announced a halt to operations on January 20 this year after the Environmental Management Agency do directed citing a lack of compliancy.

“Better Brands hereby advises its valued stakeholders that all surface mining operations shall be suspended with immediate effect due to the concerns about the increased number of fatalities, and environmental degradation,” reads a statement written by Better Brands Mining, the holding company for Redwing.

Mupfumi further said that the organisations are prepared to escalate their fight to the international community.

“If the government fails to heed our call, we are approaching the United Nations human rights to express our concern on government’s failure to protect citizens from militia mining that is taking place at Redwing Mine. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the UN on the sanctity of human life and government protection,” said Mupfumi.